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LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant at the 2018 All-Star Game.
On June 20, NBA Insider Shams Charania of “The Athletic” reported that All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets have reached a “stalemate” in talks over a new deal. After making just 29 games last season and still playing a full season with the franchise since his arrival in 2019, the Nets are reluctant to offer their star a long-term extension. Irving has a player option for the next final year of his deal with the Nets. He can opt for the 2023 season or enter free agency and join another team. ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski says: that if Irving decides to jump into free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers are considered the “most” significant threat to landing the Nets star.
“While some believe it is nearly impossible for the organization to complete that grand task, it appears that the Lakers are seen as the ‘main threat’ to landing a particular superobservatory. That star is none other than Kyrie Irving, LeBron James’s former teammate.” Wojnarowski said: on the June 22 edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today”.
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Knicks interested in Kyrie
Charania also reports that if Irving chooses to become a free agent this summer, the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks are expected to be his top candidates. The insider says the Knicks have a good chance of landing Kyrie if he hits the open market, but it depends how badly they want him.
“For the Knicks, the likely path to take over Irving depends on what the Nets prioritize,” Charania writes. “New York is even with the salary cap for 2022-23, so it could free up enough room to sign Irving on a maximum contract by firing salaries like Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Kemba Walker. all those players also offer to the Nets or a third team in a possible sign-and-trade.
Kyrie, Nets Contract Talks To Stay ‘Fluid’
Irving is one of the most talented players in the NBA, and when a player of his caliber potentially enters the open market, it is sure to create a buzz in the NBA community. Although Irving and the Nets have stalled contract talks, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer says talks between the two sides will remain fluid until Irving’s deadline to enter into his deal for this year.
†[T]Dialogue between Irving, his agency and Nets leadership is expected to flow smoothly leading up to his decision. Both sides seem keen to have ongoing talks about building together in Brooklyn, where the Nets can return to the championship-winning aspirations they had during this previous campaign,” Fischer said in a conversation with “Boardroom’s” Eddie Gonzalez.
“Since their departure from the playoffs, Brooklyn officials have been working on the assumption that Irving, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons will return to Barclays Center for the 2022-23 season.”
The clock is ticking for Kyrie to decide. He has until June 29 to sign up for the final year of his contract.
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